Kotas swimmers, officials and president Yii Chee Sing (sixth right, back row) and team manager Hii Tuang Sing (sixth left, back row) celebrating their good showing in the 42nd Sarawak Age Group Swimming Championship at Bukit Lima swimming pool in Sibu yesterday.
Winners of the best swimmers awards posing with (from fifth left) Wee, Tiong and Ngieng) after receiving their trophies. — Photos by Ting Tieng Hee
SIBU: Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association (Kotas) staved off a spirited challenge from Kuching Amateur Swimming Association (Kasa) 2010 on the final day of the 42nd Sarawak Age Group (SAG) Swimming Championship to emerge the best team in the three-day meet at Bukit Lima swimming pool yesterday.
They collected a total of 50 gold, 22 silver and 26 bronze medals to pip Kasa into second place on 48 gold, 43 silver and 38 bronze medals while host Sasa came in third place with 39 gold, 49 silver and 45 bronze medals.
Kotas earned further honours when three of their team members were named best swimmers in their respective categories.
Tan Tyng was the best performer for Kotas as she splashed to 13 gold medals, a repeat performance of last year, and smashed three records in the process.
The new records were set in the Girls B 100m butterfly (1:05.70s), 50m breaststroke (36.17s) and 50m butterfly (29.75s).
The other top swimmers for Kotas were the Hii brothers, with Puong Wei bagging the Boys C award with 11 golds, three silvers and one bronze while the younger brother Puong Jie took the Boys E award with nine golds and one silver.
While the Hii family shone for Kotas, the Teo family from Kuching also hogged the limelight when Natasha, Andrea and Kelly sweeping the Girls C, D and E best swimmers awards.
Natasha won six golds, three silvers and three bronzes, Andrea nine golds and one silver while the youngest of them Kelly was on target with eight golds and two silvers.
Seven new meet records were set in the championship with Tan Tyng and Nee Gui Ping each breaking three while the other record was created by Masa’s Leong Wan Ying in the Girls A 50m backstroke.
Wan Ying clocked 32.92s to erase a 10-year record of 33.40s set by Amira Nuria Anuar of Kasa and the record-breaking feat as well as bagging six gold medals earned her the Best Girl swimmer in Girls A.
Other best swimmers were Ngu Jiung Wei in Boys A, Nee Gui Ping in Boys B and Eden Toh Bock Zien in Boys C. All three swimmers are from Sasa.
Meanwhile, in his closing speech, Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak president Dato Wee Hong Seng said he was happy to note the number of records broken in the meet and the growing interest in competitive age group swimming.
“I can safely say that once again we have raised our bar of competitive swimming. This annual swimming carnival is always a good indication of how well you have prepared yourselves and mount a challenge in the coming MSSM Swimming Championship in March and National Age Group Swimming Championship in April,” he said.
Wee thanked all the hardworking coaches and Asas affiliates for their dedication and passion in age group development swimming.
“We (Asas) are working closely with Ministry of Sports, Sarawak Sports Corporation, Sarawak State Sports Council and local municipal councils on the facilitation of training centres for our affiliates, purchase of training equipment, allocation and engagement of coaches and swimmers’ welfare.
“Asas is currently actively structuring up different components like technical committee, discipline committee, membership registration to safeguard the interest of our swimmers,” added Wee.
Also present at the closing ceremony were Member of Parliament for Lanang Datuk Tiong Thai King, Sasa president Daniel Ngieng Kiong Ann and organising chairperson Connie Wong Liong Khieng.